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MCGILLIVRAY, Florence Helena

Born
Whitby, Ontario, 1864
Died
Toronto, Ontario, 1938
Biography synopsis
A prolific sketcher and painter, Florence McGillivray traveled widely in North America, the Caribbean and Europe in search of new landscapes. After studying at the Ontario School of Art under William Cruikshank, she sought out J.W.L. Foster, F.M. Bell-Smith, L.R. O'Brien and F. McGillivray Knowles for private lessons. Subsequent to her studies, she occasionally worked as a critic at Pickering College, Ontario in the 1890s, and became a teacher at the Ontario Ladies' College from about 1901 until 1912. In 1894, she began traveling, exploring parts of Canada and the British West Indies, and finally ending up in France in 1913, where she studied with Lucien Simon and Menard. While in Europe, she came into contact with fauvism and post-impressionism, before these movements had had the chance to migrate across the Atlantic. In 1913 her painting, "Contentment" was shown at the Salon des Beaux Arts, and she was also elected president of the International Art Union. After traveling in Brittany, England and Italy, she returned to Toronto in 1914, and then moved to Ottawa, from which point she explored and sketched various parts of eastern Canada, including Newfoundland. She brought European painting ideas to Canada and shared them with other artists, including Tom Thomson whom she mentored, offering him support, advice and encouragement. Other travel destinations included Trinidad, Jamaica, and Bahama Islands in the West Indies, Alaska, the eastern United States, and western Canada. She was also a member of various associations, such as the Ontario Society of Artists, the Society of Women Painters and Sculptors, New York, the Royal Canadian Academy and the Canadian Society of Painters in Water Colour. The National Gallery of Canada, the Art Gallery of Ontario, the Art Gallery of Hamilton, the Agnes Etherington Art Centre and galleries in Kitchener, London, Ontario, and Windsor all count examples of her work in their collections.
Media used
Painting
Education
Ontario College of Art & Design (formerly Ontario School of Art) (under Cruickshank)
Private study (under J.W.L. Foster, L.R. O'Brien, and J.M. McGillivray Knowles)
Private study, 1913 (under Lucien Simon, and Menard, Paris)
Memberships
Ontario Society of Artists, 1917
Women Painters and Sculptors, New York, 1917
International Art Union, 1913
Society of Women Painters and Sculptors, New York
Canadian Society of Painters in Water Colour
Heliconian Club, 1916
Women's Art Association of Canada, 1886
File & Archive locations
Art Gallery of Ontario - Edward P. Taylor Research Library and Archives
Montreal Museum of Fine Arts / Musée des Beaux-Arts de Montréal, QC
Hamilton Public Library, ON - Local History and Archives Department
National Gallery of Canada, ON - Library and Archives
University of British Columbia - Fine Arts Library
Canadian Women Artists History Initiative Documentation Centre, QC
Library and Archives Canada / Bibliothèque et Archives Canada, ON
BIBLIOGRAPHY

Writings about
The Florence McGillivray Project 2017
http://florencemcgillivray.ca/
"F.H. McGillivray Dies: Woman Painter Was A.R.C.A. and O.S.A. Member." Gazette (Montreal) 9 May 1938: 9
"Miss F. H. McGillivray Dies in Toronto." Ottawa Journal 9 May 1938
"Miss McGillivray, Widely Known As Artist, Passes On." Ottawa Citizen 9 May 1938
"Personal News of Ottawa People: Studio-Tea Party." Ottawa Citizen 23 Oct. 1920
"What Women Are Doing: Social Events." Globe (Toronto) 7 Mar. 1921: 8
Allen, W.C. A Collection of Works by Florence Helena McGillivray Victoria, B.C.: Friesen Press, 2016
Allen, W.C.. Finding Florence 2017
http://youtu.be/7zQt9WCpORo
Allodi, Mary. Canadian Watercolours and Drawings in the Royal Ontario Museum Toronto: Royal Ontario Museum, 1974
Art Association of Montreal. Catalogue of an Exhibition of Paintings of At Home and Abroad by F. H. McGillivray, A.R.C.A., O.S.A. Montreal: Art Association of Montreal, 1928
Art Gallery of Toronto. Catalogue of an Exhibition of Paintings by the Royal Scottish Society of Painters in Watercolours, Little Pictures by Members of the Ontario Society of Artists and Lithographs by Edmond X. Kapp Toronto: Art Gallery of Toronto, 1933
Art Gallery of Toronto. The Art Gallery of Toronto Bulletin and Annual Report. Toronto: (Apr. 1937): 20
Bradfield, Helen Pepall. Art Gallery of Ontario: The Canadian Collection Toronto: McGraw-Hill, 1970
British Empire Exhibition. A Portfolio of Pictures from the Canadian Section of Fine Arts London, England: British Empire Exhibition, 1924
Bull, William Perkins. The Perkins Bull Collection: Historical Paintings by Canadian Artists Illustrating Pioneers and Pioneering in the County of Peel Brampton, Ontario: Printed privately, 1934
Butlin, Susan. A new matrix of the arts: a history of the professionalization of Canadian women artists, 1880-1914 Ottawa: National Library of Canada, 2010
E. W. H. "F. H. McGillivray." Ottawa Citizen 11 Dec. 1930
Falk, Peter H., et al. Who Was Who in American Art, 1564-1975: 400 Years of Artists in America Madison, Connecticut: Sound View Press, 1999
Falk, Peter Hastings. Who Was Who in American Art, 1985 Madison, Conneticut: Sound View Press, 1985
Haggo, Regina. Forgotten Canadian Artists: How a Woman Tamed Nature with a Brush: Florence McGillivray 2017
http://youtu.be/P3Trw8XuZzo
Haggo, Regina. "On the Home Front." Hamilton Spectator 3 Mar. 2001
Haggo, Regina. “How a woman tamed nature with a brush.” Hamilton Spectator 7 January 2017, G1
Hale, Katherine. "Art and Artists in Canada." Public Health Journal 12.2 (Feb. 1916): 96-99
Harper, J. Russell. Early Painters and Engravers in Canada Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 1970
Hubbard, R. H. National Gallery of Canada, Catalogue of Paintings and Sculpture, Volume 3 Ottawa: Published for the Trustees by University of Toronto Press, 1960
Hughes, Margaret E. "A Guide to Canadian Painters." Ontario Library Review 24.3 (May-Aug. 1940)
Johnson, Jane and A. Greutzer. Dictionary of British Artists, 1880-1940 Woodbridge: Antique Collectors' Club, 1976
MacDonald, Colin S. The Dictionary of Canadian Artists. (Volumes 1-8 by Colin S. MacDonald, and volume 9 by Anne Newlands and Judith Parker) Ottawa: National Gallery of Canada, 2009
MacTavish, Newton. Ars Longa Toronto: The Ontario Publishing Co., 1925
McKendry, Blake. A to Z of Canadian Art: Artists and Art Terms Kingston: B. McKendry, 1997
McMann, Evelyn de Rostaing. Montreal Museum of Fine Arts, Formerly Art Association of Montreal: Spring Exhibitions, 1880-1970 Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 1988
McMann, Evelyn de Rostaing. Royal Canadian Academy of Arts/Académie royale des arts du Canada: Exhibitions and Members 1880-1979 Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 1981
Murray, Joan. Ontario Society of Artists: 100 Years Toronto: Art Gallery of Ontario, 1972
Murray, Joan. The Birth of the Modern: Post-Impressionism in Canadian Art, c.1900-1920 Oshawa: The Robert McLaughlin Gallery, 2001
Murray, Joan. Tom Thomson: Design for a Canadian Hero Toronto: Dundurn Press, 1998
Murray, Joan. "Another Connection." Oshawa Times 20 Mar. 1985
Musée du Jeu de Paume. Exposition d'art canadien, Paris, 10 avril-10 mai 1927 Paris: Musée du Jeu de Paume, 1927
National Gallery of Canada. Catalogue of Paintings and Sculpture: Canadian School Ottawa: Trustees of the National Gallery of Canada, 1957
Ontario Society of Artists. Catalogue of the Sixtieth Annual Exhibition of the Ontario Society of Artists, 1932 Toronto: 1932
Ontario Society of Artists. Catalogue of the Sixty-Fourth Annual Exhibition of the Ontario Society of Artists, 1936 Toronto: 1936
Opitz, Glenn B., ed. Mantle Fielding's Dictionary of American Painters, Sculptors and Engravers Poughkeepsie, New York: Apollo, 1983
Page, Anne M. Canada's first professional women painters, 1890-1914: their reception in Canadian writing on the visual arts Ottawa: National Library of Canada, 1992
Prakash, A. K. Independent Spirit: Early Canadian Women's Art Buffalo, New York: Firefly Books, 2008
Robson, Albert Henry. Canadian Landscape Painters Toronto: Ryerson Press, 1932
Schell, H. R., et al. Florence McGillivray Retrospective Exhibition at "The Station" Whitby, Ontario: Whitby Arts Incorporated, 1970
Simpson, Idola. "Special Exhibit of Works of Whitby Artists." Oshawa Times 24 Sept. 1970
Simpson, Kieran, ed. Canadian Who's Who, 1936 Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 1936
Sisler, Rebecca. Passionate Spirits: A History of the Royal Canadian Academy of Arts, 1880-1980 Toronto: Clarke, Irwin, 1980
Smith, Frances K. Agnes Etherington Art Centre, Queen's University Permanent Collection Kingston: Agnes Etherington Art Centre, 1968
Tippett, Maria. By a Lady Toronto: Viking, 1992
Topp, Elizabeth Cadiz. Endless Summer: Canadian Artists in the Caribbean Kleinberg, Ontario: The McMichael Canadian Art Collection, 1988
Winter, Brian. "Whitby's 'Most Famous' Artist Gave Pointers to Tom Thomson." Oshawa Times 16 Feb. 1985

Full text pdfs of exhibition reviews
Women's Art Association of Canada (Tor) - Sketch Club Exhibition: (89 Canada Life Building, May 11, 1892) "General News of the City. Interesting Exhibition by the Women's Art Club"  Globe  May 12, 1892.  p.8.   Full-text pdf
Ontario Society of Artists Annual Exhibition: (Toronto, May 25, 1892) "Art Notes."  The Week  June 03, 1892.  p.427.   Full-text pdf
Ontario Society of Artists Annual Exhibition: (Toronto, February 28, 1902) "O. S. A. Exhibition. More Pictures and of Better Quality Than Last Year. A Very Pleasing Collection-A List of the Less Distinguished- The Public Opening Will Take Place This Evening."  Globe (Toronto)  February 28, 1902.  p.7.   Full-text pdf
Ontario Society of Artists Annual Exhibition: (Toronto, March 03, 1915) M.L.A.F..  "Art Exhibition. New Pictures at the Art Gallery-Ontario Society of Artists Exhibits."  Toronto Star  March 12, 1915.  p.10.   Full-text pdf
Ontario Society of Artists Annual Exhibition: (Toronto, March 03, 1915) Irene B. Wrenshall.  "Toronto."  American Art News  March 20, 1915.  13.24: p.6.   Full-text pdf
Ontario Society of Artists Annual Exhibition: (Toronto, March 03, 1915) Hector Charlesworth.  "O.S.A.'s Exhibition 1915."  Toronto Saturday Night  March 20, 1915.  p.4.   Full-text pdf
Art Association of Montreal Annual Spring Exhibition: (Montreal, March 26, 1915) "Spring Art Show Has 478 Exhibits. Even Excellence Dominant Note at Art Association Which Opened Last Night. Nothing Very Daring."  Gazette (Montreal)  March 26, 1915.  p.5.   Full-text pdf
Royal Canadian Academy Annual Exhibition: (Montreal, November 18, 1915) "Royal Canadian Academy of Arts Open Galleries. 288 Fine Pictures on Exhibition at 37th Annual Exhibition."  Montreal Herald  November 19, 1915.  p.5.   Full-text pdf
Ontario Society of Artists Annual Exhibition: (Toronto, March 11, 1916) "Extremes Meet at O.S.A. Show."  The Globe (Toronto)  March 11, 1916.  p.8.   Full-text pdf
Ontario Society of Artists Annual Exhibition: (Toronto, March 11, 1916) Hector Charlesworth.  "Pictures That Can be Heard. A Survey of the Ontario Society of Artists Exhibition."  Toronto Saturday Night  March 18, 1916.  p.5.   Full-text pdf
Royal Canadian Academy Annual Exhibition: (Montreal, November 16, 1916) "Art Works on View Set High Standard."  Gazette (Montreal)  November 17, 1916.  p.7.   Full-text pdf
The Joint Annual Exhibition of the RCA and the OSA: (Toronto; Montreal (Fall), April 05, 1918) "Spring Exhibit at Art Gallery. Returned Soldier Exhibits Two Works Sketched at the Front. Four Artists Overseas. Late Exhibition of R.C.A. Held Works that Usually Came to Montreal - Good Watercolors."  Gazette (Montreal)  April 05, 1918.  p.7.   Full-text pdf
The Joint Annual Exhibition of the RCA and the OSA: (Toronto, April 05, 1918) "For National Gallery. Trustees Make 23 Purchases from Joint Display of R.C.A. and O.S.A."  Toronto Star  April 05, 1918.  p.5.   Full-text pdf
The Joint Annual Exhibition of the RCA and the OSA: (Toronto; Montreal (Fall), April 05, 1918) Hector Charlesworth.  "Toronto's New Art Gallery. Its First Exhibition Provided by the Royal Canadian Academy."  Toronto Saturday Night  April 20, 1918.  p.3.   Full-text pdf
The Joint Annual Exhibition of the RCA and the OSA: (Toronto, April 05, 1918) Hector Charlesworth.  "Toronto's New Art Gallery. Its First Exhibition Provided by the Royal Canadian Academy."  Toronto Saturday Night  April 20, 1918.  p.3.   Full-text pdf
The Joint Annual Exhibition of the RCA and the OSA: (Toronto; Montreal (Fall), April 05, 1918) "War-time Note in Academy Pictures. Camouflaged Shipping the Subject of Some Historically Interesting Works. Standard Maintained. Painters Producing Fewer Works Evidenced by Showing Pictures Exhibited Last Spring in Toronto."  Gazette (Montreal)  November 22, 1918.  p.11.   Full-text pdf
Royal Canadian Academy Annual Exhibition: (Montreal, November 18, 1920) "Art of Canadians Well Represented."  Gazette (Montreal)  November 19, 1920.  p.9.   Full-text pdf
Royal Canadian Academy Annual Exhibition: (Montreal, November 18, 1920) Ramsay Traquair.  "Royal Canadian Academy."  Canadian Forum  December 1920.  1.3: pp.83-85.   Full-text pdf
Royal Canadian Academy Annual Exhibition: (Montreal, November 16, 1922) "High Standard Set by R.C.A. Pictures. Forty-Fourth Exhibition Opened With Private View Last Night."  Gazette (Montreal)  November 17, 1922.  p.9.   Full-text pdf
Royal Canadian Academy Annual Exhibition: (Ottawa, November 20, 1924) "Royal Arts Academy. Forty-sixth Exhibition of Royal Canadian Academy of Arts In the National Gallery of Canada."  Ottawa Evening Journal  November 20, 1924.  p.2.   Full-text pdf
Royal Canadian Academy Annual Exhibition: (Ottawa, November 20, 1924) "Royal Canadian Academy Opens at the National Gallery Here."  Ottawa Citizen  November 21, 1924.  p.5.   Full-text pdf
Royal Canadian Academy Annual Exhibition: (Ottawa, November 20, 1924) "National Atmosphere Produced in the Paintings at the Academy; Opening Night Brilliant Occasion."  Ottawa Evening Journal  November 21, 1924.  p.3.   Full-text pdf
Royal Canadian Academy Annual Exhibition: (Ottawa, November 20, 1924) "Art Comment."  Ottawa Citizen  November 27, 1924.  p.18.   Full-text pdf
Ontario Society of Artists Annual Exhibition: (Toronto, March 07, 1925) Hector Charlesworth.  "Ontario Society of Artists. Brilliant Portraiture the Outstanding Feature of This Year's Show."  Toronto Saturday Night  March 14, 1925.  p.3.   Full-text pdf
Royal Canadian Academy Annual Exhibition: (Montreal, November 19, 1925) "Fine Work Marks R.C.A. Exhibition. New Schools Offer Contrast to Solidly-Based Qualities of Older and Established Painters."  Gazette (Montreal)  November 20, 1925.  p.10.   Full-text pdf
Royal Canadian Academy Annual Exhibition: (Montreal, November 19, 1925) R.S..  "The Royal Canadian Academy."  McGill Fortnightly Review  December 05, 1925.  p.14.   Full-text pdf
Royal Canadian Academy Annual Exhibition: (Montreal, November 19, 1925) S. Morgan-Powell.  "Academy Exhibition Canvases That Have Attracted Attention."  Montreal Star  December 16, 1925.  p.6.   Full-text pdf
Art Association of Montreal Annual Spring Exhibition: (Montreal, March 24, 1927) Albert Laberge.  "Des oeuvres remarquables au Salon de nos peintres."  La Presse (Montreal)  March 25, 1927.  p.26.   Full-text pdf
Art Association of Montreal Annual Spring Exhibition: (Montreal, March 24, 1927) "Over 300 Exhibits in Spring Art Show. Forty-fourth Exhibition Opened with Private View Last Night. Will Close April 18. Landscapes and Marines Predominate - Some Prominent Artists and Several of Younger Group Unrepresented."  Gazette (Montreal)  March 25, 1927.  p.6.   Full-text pdf
Art Association of Montreal Annual Spring Exhibition: (Montreal, March 24, 1927) H. P. Bell.  "Landscape Prevails in Spring Exhibition of Art Association."  Montreal Star  March 25, 1927.  p.6.   Full-text pdf
Royal Canadian Academy Annual Exhibition: (Montreal, November 24, 1927) Albert Laberge.  "Appréciation de quelques toiles du Salon des artistes Canadiens."  La Presse (Montreal)  December 03, 1927.  p.52.   Full-text pdf
Art Association of Montreal Annual Spring Exhibition: (Montreal, March 22, 1928) "Spring Exhibition at Art Galleries. Younger Men and Women Encouraged by Jury of Selection."  Gazette (Montreal)  March 23, 1928.  p.8.   Full-text pdf
Royal Canadian Academy Annual Exhibition: (Montreal, November 21, 1929) "R.C.A. Show Opened with Private View. Fifty-first Annual Exhibition Housed in Art Association Galleries."  Gazette (Montreal)  November 22, 1929.  p.18.   Full-text pdf
Royal Canadian Academy Annual Exhibition: (Montreal, November 19, 1931) "Wide Range of Art In R.C.A. Exhibition."  Gazette (Montreal)  November 20, 1931.  p.10.   Full-text pdf
Royal Canadian Academy Annual Exhibition: (Montreal, November 1933) "Governor-General Opens Annual Art Exhibition. His Excellency Recalls Tradition of Predecessors-Stresses Art's Part in Renaissance of National Taste."  Montreal Star  November 17, 1933.  p.20.   Full-text pdf
Royal Canadian Academy Annual Exhibition: (Montreal, November 1933) "Royal Canadian Academy's 54th Exhibition."  Montreal Star  November 22, 1933.  p.15.   Full-text pdf
Ontario Society of Artists Annual Exhibition: (Toronto, March 1934) Lucy Van Gogh.  "Art World."  Toronto Saturday Night  March 10, 1934.  p.9.   Full-text pdf
Royal Canadian Academy Annual Exhibition.: (Montreal, November 21, 1935) "The Fifty-Sixth Exhibition of the Canadian Academy."  Montreal Star  November 22, 1935.  p.13.   Full-text pdf
Royal Canadian Academy Annual Exhibition.: (Montreal, November 21, 1935) "Art Gallery Scene of R.C.A. Exhibition. Paintings and Other Works from Various Canadian Points Total 444. Much Good Portraiture."  Gazette (Montreal)  November 23, 1935.  p.19.   Full-text pdf
Royal Canadian Academy Annual Exhibition: (Montreal, November 18, 1937) "Royal Canadian Academy Show is Opened at Art Association. Portraiture Represented by Good Examples and Landscapes as Usual Predominate."  Gazette (Montreal)  November 19, 1937.  p.12.   Full-text pdf

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